27th Annual Portfest “Rollin’ on the River” Festival

John Anderson, Darryl Worley and Vince Neil will be the featured performers at the 27th Annual Portfest “Rollin’ on the River” Festival on June 6 & 7. 

Darryl Worley has charted 15 singles since 2000 including three number one hits: “I Miss My Friend,” “Awful, Beautiful Life” and “Have You Forgotten,” which was inspired by the events of the Sept. 11 attacks. Worley will perform at 7:15 p.m. on Friday, June 6.

John Anderson takes the stage at 9 p.m. on June 6.  Anderson first hit the country charts in 1977 with his backwoods accent and distinctive vocals.  To date, he has released 22 studio albums and has charted more than 40 singles, including five number ones:  “Wild & Blue,” “Swingin,” “Black Sheep,” “Straight Tequila Night” and “Money in the Bank.” 

Portfest’s headliner on Saturday, June 7 is Vince Neil, lead singer of the legendary rock band Mötley Crüe.  The band produced such hits as “Girls, Girls, Girls,” “Doctor Feelgood,” and “Kick Start My Heart.”  Neil is set to perform at 8:30 p.m. 

Portfest festivities will kick off with an additional concert on Thursday, June 5 at Jacksonport State Park.  Shirley Chauvin and her band S’Wonderful will perform at 7 p.m. Chauvin will be performing swing songs made famous by great big band vocalists of the 1940s through the 1970s including Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee and others.  Tickets are only $5 at the gate for this event.

Tickets for June 6 are $15 in advance or $20 at the gates.  Admission on June 7 is $7 all day or $20 at the gates after 4 p.m.  Kids six and under get in free both days.  Tickets will go on sale in mid-April at outlets throughout the region including Searcy, Batesville, Jonesboro and Newport. 

Hosted by the Newport Area Chamber of Commerce, Portfest is held on the banks of the White River at beautiful Jacksonport State Park, three miles north of Newport off Hwy. 69.  Annual Portfest-related contests include the Arkansas State Catfish Cooking Contest, Buddy Bass Tournament, 5K Walk and Run, a fishing derby, two-person golf scramble, talent contest, horseshoe pitching contest and the Colgate Country Showdown.